Rotating display mechanism



Oct- 17, 1961 E. w. CLARK 3,004,358

ROTATING DISPLAY MECHANISM Filed Oct. 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGZ. 94

INVENTOR. EUGENE .W. CLARK gaqdmigzyelvt AT T ORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 000. 9, 1957 FIG.4.

INVENTOR. EUGENE W CLARK ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,004,358 ROTATING DISPLAY MECHANISM Eugene'W. Clark, Colerain Township, Hamilton County,

Ohio, assignor to Advertising Products, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 689,077 4Claims.c (Cl. 40-33) This invention relates to-means for supporting and turning display means. p

An object of this invention is to provide means for supporting and turning display means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character adapted to support and turn a depending clock. I

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above character which is also adapted to provide means for'incorporation in an electrical circuit, whereby electrical energy may be continuously conveyed to means supported and turned by said device.v

A further object of this invention is to provide an .indicia-bearing clock and display means supported and turned by means simulating a pocket watch stem, whereby a clock simulating a pocket watch maybe provided having a stationary stern section and a rotating main case section.

A further object of this invention is to provide a generally tubular, hollow casing which resembles the radially protruding neck portion of a watch case, the hollow tubular member having a tubular pendant-ring member pivotally coupled to same, the end of the hollow member being adapted to co-operate with an axially vented hollow cup having an external appearance simulating a watch winding knob, said body and cup serving to house driving means such as a motor, a shaft extending axially through said hollow housing from adjacent the motor and away from the cap into the case of a clock to be supported, means for securing a clock case to said axially facing grooves being provided in the radial faces of said collars adapted to receive and support cylindrical I conductor ring members in concentric relation to and spaced from said shaft, a cage comprising a pair of spaced, ringshaped dielectric members joined by a plurality of bar members each having a finger adapted to continuously engage the exterior surface of one of said collar-supported ring members, said cage being supported in fixed relation to said hollow housing, a plurality of conductor binding members supported upon the dielectric collar member disposed between one of said conductor rings and the portion of the shaft adapted for co-operative engagement with a portion of a clock housing, each of said binding means being in co-operative relation to a portion of an 'electrical conductor which is also connected to a corresponding one of said conductor rings, whereby electrical conductors in said clock housing may be secured to the binding means which remain in fixed relation to said housing, being thereby placed in continuous electrical conductive relationship to the respectiveone of said 1 finger-supporting bars.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a device ,ofthe above character in which means are provided for deliveringelectrical energyto a plurality of electrically operated devices in said supported rotatable housing, said Patented Oct. 17, 1961 hollow tubular member supporting means for interrupting the flow of electrical energy to the turning motor supported thereby and at least one of the electrically operated devices in said rotatable housing without interrupting operation of at least one of the other electrically actuated devices in said rotatable housing.

The above and other features and objects of this invention will in part be obvious, and will in part be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

In the accompanying drawings and the following description of the embodiment disclosedrtherein, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of a pocket watch simulating clock embodyingthe instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a View partly in section and partly broken away, of a portion of the clock case and the supporting and turning mechanism which simulates the stern, winding knob, and pendant ring portions thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 4, portions of the device being broken away to more clearly show details of its construction;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation, partly broken-away of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, the view being taken in the direction indicated by the arrows 44 in FIG. 3; and e FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits of the device shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 a clock resembling a pocket Watch in ap pearance is illustrated. The clock which resembles a pocket Watch in external appearance illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a main cased clock portion 15 below the line B and above it a radially projecting stem portion 16 to which the pendant ring 17 is pivoted and from the outer end of which the winding knob simulating portion 18 projects. The clock portion 15 of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a case 19'having a clock face'20- and associated therewith a pair of clock hands 21. Suitable driving mechanism is provided for the clock hands 21 and the clock may be set by any suitable means such as setting wheel 22. The clock casing 19 also houses illuminating means such as a light bulb 23 in co-operative engagement with a socket 24 by means of which electrical current may be supplied to the light bulb 23 for producing light serving to illuminate the clock.

The radially projecting stem portion 16 serves to house means'for rotatably supporting the cased clock portion 15 shown in FIG. 1 below line B, and to house means for rotating the rotatable support means with which the rotating means co-operate. The stem portion 16 may be supported in fixed position with the rotating means so oriented that its axis is vertical. In the device shown in FIG. 1, a pendant ring 17 is shown extendnig to the right generally parallel to line B. The pendant ring 17 is in pivotal co-operative relationship with the stem member 16 and is adapted to be supported by appropriate means 25, such as a hook, cord, wire, chain, or the like, shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, pendant ring 17 may be a tubular member, bent symmetrically to C-shape. The central portion of pendant ring 17 is adapted to rest upon support means 25. Adjacent the ends of pendant ring, 17 are cylindrical portions 26 having a common axis. As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portions 26 are preferably smaller in external diameter than the remaining portion of pendant ring 17 in order that a radially extending shoulder face 27 is provided and adapted to co-operate with member 16. Radial shoulder face 27 thusQcotions 26 is concerned. Stem portion 16 may be made of any suitable material by any suitable method, for example, die cast aluminum, and constitutes a hollow, generally, tubular shell of varying diameter, within which a radially inwardly extending annular flange 28 is provided. As shown, flange 28 is preferably an integral portion of stem or housing 16. The cylindrical portions 26 of pendant ring 17 are received co-operatively in apertures provided in stem housing 16, the apertures being located diametrally opposite to each other. Thus pendant ring 17 is adapted to swing relative to housing 16, as indicated by the arrows A in FIG. 1, about the axis of cylindrical portions 26 when the latter portions are in co-operative relation to said housing.v The external form of member 16 may be of any suitable shape and is preferably proportionally sized and of a shape characteristic of the radially extending stem portion of a pocket watch. I prefer that the adjacent portions of stem or frame member 1 6 and the main case portion 19 of the clock 15 have radially inwardly extending parallel flange portions 29 and 30, adjacent which radially outwardly extending rib I01 bead portions 31, 32 are respectively provided. The adjacent bead portions 31, 32 serve to substantially conceal the gap or space 33 between the flanges 29 and 30-.

A bearing mounting cup 34 has a radially outwardly extending flange 35 adapted to rest upon and be secured to the integral, annular flange portion 28 of the stem or housing 16. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the side wall 36 cled by flange portion 28 and is joined to the cup bottom 37. Cup bottom 37 has an axial aperture extending therethrough such that the bottom 37 might aptly be described as a radially, inwardly extending annular flange. cup 34 is adapted to co-operatively receive and support suitable bearing means such as the anti-friction bearings illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the former being of the ball type, while the latter is of the roller type. The anti-friction bearings comprise a cup-supported race 39, a plurality "portion 4.3 is provided adjacent the upper end of shaft 42 and adapted to abuttingly rest against race 41. Means for rotating shaft 42 are provided in the form of motor 44,

preferably having a radially outwardly extending case or frame flange 45, adapted to be secured in fixed relation to and resting upon the bearing cup flange 35. Motor 44 is The,

of the cup 34 extends axially through the aperture encirwhich, as shown in FIG. -2, is of a vertical shaft type,

preferably of the type having a shaft rotation speed of the order of one revolution per minute. clearly in FIG. 4, I prefer that the shaft bearing of motor 44-adjacent shaft 42 is of the extending or projecting type adapted to project into recess 38 provided in the adjacent end of shaft '42. Extended motor shaft bearing 46 is adapted to primarily support shaft 47 and secondarily may co-operate with shaft 42. Motor shaft 47 adjacent 'its free end is adapted to couple with shaft 42 and, as

shown in FIG. 4, the end portion 48 of shaft 47 may be of square shape in section and extends into axial recess 49 of corresponding cross section in shaft 42.

Motor 44 being secured in fixed relation to stem .or housing shell 16, thus will turn its shaft 47 and shaft 42 coupled thereto, when an appropriate flow of electrical energy is provided. As is shown most clearly in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a plurality of dielectric collars 50, 51, 52 and 53 are provided upon shaft 42. Each of the collars 51 and 52 has a pair of opposed grooves each extending ally into a respective one of the radial faces thereof in trio relation to shaft 42. Each of the end collars 9 and 53 has an annular groove in the radial face there- I faces respectively, collar 51, and collar 52. g The As shown more annular grooves provided in collars 50, 51, 52, and 53 are all of substantially the same width and depth in radial section, are circular and of [the same diameter.

Collar 50 is placed upon'shaft 42 and secured thereto by suitable means, such. as set screw 54, in the position shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The collar 50 is so oriented that the grooved radial face thereof is farther from integral shoulder portion 43 of shaft 42 than is the ungrooved radial face of collar 50. A contact band member 55 of.right cylindrical form is then positioned with a marginal edge portion thereof received in the groove provided in the radial face of collar 50. Contact band 55 thus is positioned in spaced, coaxial relationship to shaft 42 and projects from collar 50 away from shoulder 43.

As is shown in FIG. 4, a conductor or pigtail wire 56 is secured by any suitable means, such as solder fillet 57, to the surface of band 55 which faces shaft 42. The conductor 56, as shown, may have an insulating jacket 58, and have its major portion extending generally in parallel, spaced relationship to shaft 42. When band 55 has been placed in co-operative relationship to collar 50 with its pigtail wire 56 extending away from collar 50, collar 51 may be positioned upon shaft 42. The collar 51 has an axial aperture or bore adapted to co-operatively receive shaft 42 and a second aperture or'bore extending parallel to and spaced from the aperture for receiving shaft 42. The second aperture or bore is adapted to receive a portion of pigtail wire 56 together with its encasing insulating jacket 58, as shown in FIG. 4, the pigtail wire 56 being fed through the bore provided therefor, as collar 51 is advanced along shaft 42 toward collar 50 until'the marginal edge portion of band 55 remote from collar '50 is received in the axially facing groove provided in radial face 59 of collar 51.

A second band 60 is then placed with its marginal portion within the groove provided in radial face 61 of collar 51. The contact band 60 has a pigtail wire 62 secured to it by means such as solder fillet 63 and as shown in FIG.

4, may have an insulating jacket 64. As is shown in FIG. 3, pigtail wire 62 extends in spaced generally parallel relationship to pigtail wire 56 and shaft 42; Collar 52 is placed upon shaft 42 and advanced until the respective marginal portion of contact band 60 is received in the axially facing groove provided in face 65 thereof.

In advancing collar 52 into the position in which it is shown in FIG. 4, pigtail wires 56 and 62 are fed through respective apertures provided inthat collar. Contact band 66 may then be placed in the position in which it is shown in FIG. 4 with a marginal portion thereof received in the axially extending annular groove provided in face 67 of collar 52. A pigtail wire 68 is secured to the face of contact band 66 adjacent shaft 42 by suitable means such as solder fillet 69. The pigtail wire 68 may have a jacket of insulation 70. Finally, collar 53 is placed upon shaft 42 and advanced until it is in the position illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein a marginal edge portion of contact 'band 66 is received in the axially facing annular groove provided in radial face 71 of the collar 53 and pigtail wires 56, 62, 68, extend through respective bores therein as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Collar 53 is secured in fixed relation to shaft 42 by any suitable means such as set screw 72, to preclude axial displacement therealong. Thus, with set screws 54 and 72 respectively anchoring collars 50 and 53 against'movement relative to shaft 42, contact bands 55, 60 and 66 are clamped together with collars 51 and 52 in fixed relationship to the shaft 42, it being understood that the contact band-receiving grooves are of such width and shape in radial section, that placement of the several collars and bands in the corresponding relationship illustrated in FIG. 4 results in wedging co-operative engagement of the respective co-operating portions of the several collars and Thus, when the collars and intervening contact bands are assembled and mounted upon shaft 42, as just described, they present a plurality of spaced, recessed,

cylindrical contact surfaces disposed between ribs of dielectric material. A plurality of binding terminals 73, 74 and 75 are provided in co-operative engagement with collar 53 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. As shown, the binding terminals comprise a screwthe shank of which is in threaded cooperative engagement with collar 53. As is shown most clearly in FIG. 4, the pigtail wire 68 extends through bore 76 in collar 53 and thence outward radially in slot 77 provided in radial face 78 of the collar 53. A grommet or terminal member 79 is in co-operative engagement with pigtail wire 68 and encircles the shank of screw 75. The terminal or grommet portion 79 is preferably recessed in substantially flush relationship to the peripheral surface of collar 53, as shown in FIG. 4. Pigtail wire 62 in a similar manner extends through a corresponding bore and radial slot in collar 53 into co-operative engagement with a terminal member associated with binding screw 74 in a manner corresponding to that in which terminal 79 is associated with binding screw 75, while pigtail wire 56 extends through collar 53 in a corresponding fashion and is similarly associated with means disposed for cooperation with binding screw 73 and corresponding to terminal 79. Thus, binding screws 73, 74, and 75 are adapted to respectively connect conductors through the pigtail wires to contact bands 55, 60 and 66, respectively. It may be noted that the binding terminals or screws 73, 74 and 75, like the collar 53, with which they co-operate, turn in unison with shaft 42. As is shown in FIG. 2, shaft 42 extends downwardly through collar 53 to a threaded stud portion of reduced diameter. The threaded stud portion 80 projects axially from radial shoulder face 81. As shown in FIG. 2, clock 19 has a mounting member'82 which may be a bracket or the like, in which an aperture is provided to receive a portion of shaft stud portion 80. 1

The upper face 83 of bracket member 82 rests in face-toface fiatwise engagement with radial face 81 f shaftf42 and the stud portion 80 of that shaft substantially fills the aperture and projects as shown. The bracket 82 is secured in the position shown in FIG. 2 by suitable means such as a split ring lock Washer 84 compressed against the under side 85 of the bracket 82 by means such as nut 86in threaded engagement with stud portion 80. A cotter pin 87 may be secured in co-operative relation to stud. portion 80 and nut 86, as shown in the drawing, to preclude backing off of nut 86 and resultant loosening or disengagement of bracket 82 and shaft 42. The stud portion 80 preferably projects downwardly beyondcotter pin 87 and serves as mounting and support means for light socket 24. As shown in FIG. 2, socket 24 may be of the typehaving a permanently attached bracket portion 88, the arm 89 of which has an aperture adapted to receive a portion of stud shaft portion 80. A pair of nuts 90 and 91 are placed in threaded co-operative engagement with, stud portion 80 and are adapted to clamp arm 89 of bracket 88 in fixed relation to shaft stud'portion 80. Wire 92 contains conductors 93 and 94 which respectively connect binding terminals 73 and 74 to corresponding contacts in socket 24 which are adapted for co-operative engagement with respective portions of the base of lamp bulb 23.

Means (not shown), including" an electric motor 125 indicated schematically in FIG. 5, provided to move hands 21, are also housed in the main cased portion of the clock 15. A wire 95 containing conductors 96 and 97 is shown fragmentally in FIGURE 2, conductor 96 thereof being secured by binding screw 74, and conductor 97 thereof being secured by binding screw 75.

A dielectric ring member 98 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, is secured in fixed relation to cup bottom 37 and in face-to-face engagement with the face of the cup bottom remote from the face engaged by race 39. Ring 98 is secured to cup bottom 37 by means such as screws 99. A second dielectric ring 100 substantially identical with ring 98 is provided and supported in coaxial relationship with ring 98 and shaft 42 by a plurality of tie bar mem- 6 bers designated by the reference characters 101,102, and 103 in the drawing. Each of the tie bars 101, 102 and 103 is secured to ring 98 and ring 100, by any suitable means, such as rivets 104 and 105, respectively. The rings 98, and tie bars 101, 102, 103, when so as sembled, comprise a cage-like structure disposed in coaxial relationship to shaft 42. A plurality of wiper blades 106, 107 and 108 is provided, each supported by a respective one of the tie bars 101, 102 and 103. The .wiper blades may be separate members secured to the respective tie bars, or may be integral portions or arms of a tie bar wiper blade assembly, as shown in the drawings. The tie bar wiper blade assembly shown in the drawings comprises an integral rather T-shaped member, the stem or wiper blade portion of which is so formed as to resiliently rest in tangential wiping contact upon a corresponding contact band. Thus, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3, wiper blade 106 rests tangentially upon contact band 55, blade 107 upon band 60, and blade 108 'upon band 66. The tie bar members and associated integral wiper blades may be formed of any suitable electricity conducting material, such as brass, coppenor other suitable material. Electricity conducting lubricants may, if desired, be applied to the surface of the respective bands to minimize physical damage by galling, abrasion,

.and the like, of the wiper blades and cooperating band .and 114 extends from jack or plug member 116 through insulating protective bushing 115, the hollow interior of pendant ring 17 and into the interior of stem or housing :16. Jack or plug member 116 indicated schematically in FIG. 5 serves to connect wire 112 to a source of electrical energy in the conventional way. The pigtail wire 117 shown in FIG. 2, has a pair of conductors 118 and 119, which, as shown in FIG. 5, are respectively coupled to terminals of motor 44. Conductor 118 is also connected to conductors 114 and 120, which latter conductor is bound to tie bar 102 by screw 110. Conductors 119 and -121 are connected to a common terminal 1260f switch 122. Conductor 121 extends from the terminal 126 'of switch 122 into engagement with tie bar 101 to which it is bound by binding screw 109. Conductor 123 has its ends joined respectively to tie bar 103 by binding screw .111 and to terminal 124, the same terminal to which conductor 113 is secured. Thus, as shown most clearly in the wiring diagram FIG. 5, electrical energy will be sup- 'plied to clock motor 125 in a continuous fashion so long as jack plug 116 is connected to a source of such energy. The rotating motor 44 and illuminating means or light bulb 23 will operate when switch 122 is closed, and will not operate when switch 122 is open. Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, that various modifications and changes may be'made in the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit or .the scope of the appended claims.

Therefore, what is claimed as new, and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for suspending, rotating, and supplying electricity to an animated display, said device comprising a hollow housing, a rigid shaft supported by said housing for rotation about an upright axis and adapted to sup port a display, a motor in said housing adapted to rotate said shaft, a plurality of dielectric collars on said shaft, each collar having at least one radial face in which a circular groove spaced from and coaxial with said shaft is provided, a plurality of cylindrical contact bands of electricity conducting material having marginal edge portions received in opposed grooves in adjacent collars, said bands being supported in coaxial .spaced relationship to said shaft and each other by and between said collars, a plurality of spaced electricity conducting means,

each conducting means connected to one of said contact ing coaxial with said shaft, a plurality of substantially T-shaped wiper members supported by said fixed ring and supporting the second of said rings in coaxial relationship to said shaft, each of the stem portions of said T-shaped wiper members being in tangential resilient continuous wiping contact with a respective one of said contact bands, whereby electrical energy-carrying means is provided between each of said T-shaped wiper members in fixed, relative relation to said housing and a corresponding conducting means in fixed relative relation to said shaft, means adapted to conduct electrical energy to said motor, and means adapted to secure a display in fixed relationship to said shaft for rotation therewith, said display having a plurality of electrically operated devices therein, means connecting said electrical devices through said conducting means to respective devices bands whereby the display means may be rotated and the electrical devices therein operated when electrical energy is supplied.

2. A device for supporting a display device including first and second electrically operated components, the supporting device comprising in combination a hollow pendant ring member adapted to be supported by an elongate depending flexible member, a hollow tubular housing member in pivotal cooperation with said pendant ring, -a rotatable shaft supported by said housing for rotation about an axis relative to said housing, a motor in said housing coupled in driving'relation to said shaft, a plurality of dielectric collars on said shaft each having at least one radially extending face in which a groove is provided in spaced coaxial relationship to said sh-afn'a plurality of cylindrical contact bands of electricity conducting material, the marginal edges of said bands extending into said circular grooves whereby said bands are supported in coaxial spaced relationship to said shaft and in spaced relationship to each other, a plurality of conductors extending substantially parallel to said shaft and away from said motor, each of said conductors secured to the inner face of a respective one of said contact bands and extending away from said motor and through intervening dielectric collars to respective free ends, a cage, said cage comprising a pair of spaced vdielectric rings, a plurality of T-s'haped tie bar wiper blade elements equal in number to said contact bands one of said dielectric rings being secured in fixed relationship relative to said housing and in concentric relation to said shaft, the wiper blade portions of said members each being in resilient, continuous external tangential wiping contact with a respective one of said contact bands, at least two of said wiper blades being adapted to be coupled to a source of electrical energy'whereby said energy may be supplied continuously to a first electrically toperatable component of said display supported on and rotatable with said shaft and at least one wiper blade being coupled in series with .a switch whereby a second electrically operatable component of said display device means may be actuated while; said motor rotates said shaft.

v3. A device for supporting and rotating an illuminated electrical display clock, said supporting and rotating device comprising a housing, a shaft, means supporting said shaft for rotation about an axis coinciding with the axis of the housing and against movement longitudinally of said axis of rotation relative to said housing, means secured in said housing for rotating said shaft relative to said housing, 'a cup-like auxiliary housing having a vent therein and substantially enclosing said shaft rotating means and cooperating with said housing, a display clock including an electric clock and a second electrical device, means securing said display clock to said shaft for rotation in unison therewith, a plurality of dielectric collars mounted upon said shaft, a plurality of cylindrical contact bands, each of said bands being interposed between an adjacent pair of said collars and supported thereby in coaxial spaced relationship to said shaft, said dielectric collars, bands and shaft being secured together in unitary fashion, a plurality of conducting means, each conducting means extending from a respective one of said contact bands to a free end adapted to be connected to a respective conductor of a display clock, means adapted to secure said .display clock in fixed relationship to said shaft for rotation in unison therewith, a cage comprising a pair 7 of dielectric rings, a plurality of T-shaped tie bar blade members secured in regular spaced relation to said rings,

one of said r'ingsbeing secured in fixed relation to said housing, whereby said cage is supported in coaxial spaced relation to said shaft with the blade portions of said tie bar blade members each in tangential resilient wiping contact with a respective one of said contact bands, at least two of said wiper blades being respectively connected to respective conductors adapted to supply electrical energy whereby such energy may be continuously supplied to said display clock supported by said device, switch means supported by said housing and adapted to control supplying of electrical energy to said shaft rotating means and at least one of said wiper blades, whereby electrical energy may be supplied to said display clock continuously and to said shaft rotating means and said second electrical device forming part of said display clock means when said shaft is rotated by said rotating means. 7

4 A device in accordance with claim 3, characterized "by thefact thatsaid shaft extends into said display clock is secured :to said shaft, that said second electrical device comprises illumination means, that said illumination means is supported in fixed relation to said shaft within said clock case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,004,358 October 17, 1961 Eugene W Clark It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below. v

Column 7, line 25, for "devices" read contact Signed and sealed this 6th day of February 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SW'IDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer I Commissioner of Patents 

